Senior Backend Engineer (Node.js/Python)

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Professional growth

On-site in Paarl

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to join their core engineering team in Paarl, Western Cape. You will design, develop, and scale backend services that power our SaaS platform using Node.js or Python, with cloud and database technologies.

You will collaborate with frontend, product, and DevOps teams, mentor junior engineers, and influence architectural decisions in a fast-growing startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in either Node.js (Express.js) or Python (Django/Flask).
• Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs.
• Solid understanding of SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes is a plus.
• Understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.
• Experience with Git.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Experience with testing frameworks (Jest, Pytest) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable, high-performance backend services and APIs using Node.js or Python.
• Build and optimize robust data models and database schemas for relational and NoSQL databases.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Implement security and data protection best practices.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Develop and manage efficient data pipelines and asynchronous task queues.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers.
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks, ensuring system reliability and scalability.
• Work closely with DevOps to deploy and manage applications in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technical roadmap planning.
• Mentor junior engineers and share knowledge within the team.

Skills

Backend development

Node.js

Python

RESTful APIs

SQL databases

NoSQL databases

Cloud platforms

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

Testing frameworks

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Express.js

Django/Flask

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

DynamoDB

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing tech startup specializing in innovative SaaS solutions, is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join their core engineering team in **Paarl, Western Cape**. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in designing, developing, and scaling the backend services that power our cutting-edge platform. You will work with modern technologies, tackling complex challenges in building robust, efficient, and secure APIs and microservices. The ideal candidate will have a strong command of backend development principles, proficiency in Node.js or Python, and experience with cloud environments and database technologies. You will collaborate closely with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality software solutions. This role demands a proactive, problem-solving mindset and a passion for building scalable systems that drive business value. You will have a significant impact on the technical direction and architectural decisions of the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable, high-performance backend services and APIs using Node.js or Python.
• Build and optimize robust data models and database schemas for relational and NoSQL databases.
• Collaborate with frontend developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Implement security and data protection best practices.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Develop and manage efficient data pipelines and asynchronous task queues.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers.
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks, ensuring system reliability and scalability.
• Work closely with DevOps to deploy and manage applications in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technical roadmap planning.
• Mentor junior engineers and share knowledge within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in either Node.js (with frameworks like Express.js) or Python (with frameworks like Django/Flask).
• Proven experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs.
• Solid understanding of database technologies, including SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, DynamoDB).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and related services.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) is a plus.
• Understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.
• Experience with version control systems (Git).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Experience with testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, Pytest) is beneficial.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and a dynamic work environment with significant opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• This role is based in **Paarl, Western Cape**, offering a chance to join a growing tech company in a beautiful region.
• We provide a collaborative culture, encourage innovation, and support continuous learning through training and development programs.
• Be part of a team building impactful solutions and shaping the future of our platform.